(BCSNN) — Illinois State is headed to the NIT semifinals for the first time ever, and it earned the milestone with a wire‑to‑wire performance built on toughness, timely scoring and a fast start that silenced a crowd of 10,444 at UD Arena.

The Redbirds defeated host Dayton 61–55 on Wednesday night, extending their postseason winning streak to six — the longest active streak in the NCAA.

Illinois State (—) opened the game with a commanding 13–0 run, fueled by two early threes from Johnny Kinziger. After Dayton briefly cut the margin to five, the Redbirds responded with a 12–0 surge to push the lead to 31–14 with under six minutes left in the half. The Flyers closed on a 7–0 run to trim the deficit to 33–23 at halftime, matching the fewest first‑half points ISU has allowed in its NIT history.

The Redbirds maintained control early in the second half, using a 9–0 run to build a 19‑point lead. Dayton chipped away late, pulling within five in the final minute, but Illinois State held firm, closing out the program’s biggest postseason win in nearly three decades.

Kinziger led ISU with 16 points, his 25th double‑figure game of the season, and climbed to 28th on the school’s all‑time scoring list with 1,198 career points. Chase Walker added 13 points and 10 rebounds, becoming the 48th Redbird to reach 1,000 career points and recording his second double‑double of the season. Ty Pence scored 12 points, while Boden Skunberg tied a season high with four assists.

Illinois State’s defensive effort set the tone, holding Dayton to 23 first‑half points and limiting the Flyers’ rhythm for most of the night. The Redbirds also showcased their depth and balance, with all five starters contributing in key stretches.

The win sends Illinois State to the NIT semifinals for the first time after previous quarterfinal appearances in 1977, 1987 and 1996.